Sri Lanka’s stunning rise from the bottom to the top of the Commonwealth Bank Series Tri Nation cricket tournament here in Australia within a matter of a week, posting three victories in as many matches across the cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart has given them a rapid image change.
From the whipping boys of international cricket, Sri Lanka’s sudden metamorphosis into a world class unit in such quick time has become the main feature of the tournament but unlike on many previous occasions when the country’s cricketers had been on top of the world, this time it has been a complete team performance not relying on one or two individuals to deliver.
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| Mahela impressed with Chandimal’s abilities |
The way the youngsters have blended with the experienced and contributed as one, projects a positive image that the required health has returned to the spirit of the team which barely a month ago was seen to have been disintegrated by player politics. Mahela Jayawardene’s astute captaincy and his remarkable contribution as a batsman coupled with Tillekeratne Dilshan’s timely return to form, Dinesh Chandimal’s amazing ability to consistently make big scores, Farveez Maharoof’s excellent bowling, Lahiru Thirimanne’s confirmation as a solid batsman to strengthen the brittle middle order and the great skills of allrounders Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Maharoof which gives a remarkable balance to the team have all fallen into place like magic in a jigsaw puzzle at the prefect time.
Only missing piece now seems the failure of batting maestro Kumar Sangakkara to make a big score as he has fallen in the 20’s and 30’s repeatedly but it also makes room for the intriguing possibility of the classy left hander finding his touch in the crucial last period of the tournament.
Sri Lankans have grown in confidence with each match and have now done enough to erase the nightmarish ten months that plagued the team since entering the world cup final last year and skipper Mahela Jayawardene acknowledged their good work.
“I'm quite happy with the effort. We knew we were playing good cricket, we just had to execute a few things better, which we are doing,” he said on Friday after the match.
He still knows that fielding is one area which the team needs improvement. “Today also I thought we were probably a bit flat on the field. In that middle period we probably gave away the game but we managed to drag it back in the last six or seven overs, to a decent score,” he described.
Jayawardene has always been praising his young players during the tournament and he obviously had more than one reason to do so continuously as they have proved that they are not overawed by the opposition, conditions or pressured situations.
“These guys, a couple of them haven't had much experience, but I thought they handled the situation very well,” Jayawardene said on Friday. “They didn't go for those big shots, they just kept it going, singles, singles, and dragged the game as far as they could. And then when they wanted to hit that big shot, we knew that Thisara can do that, Angelo can do that, so we set it up nicely. They're learning, that's the most important thing,” Jayawardene explained, revealing that the cool approach of his batsmen was a well calculated one.
“All credit to Chandimal, Mathews, Thirimanne and Perera for the way they batted. These are the names that will drive Sri Lankan cricket in the years to come,” predicted the proud skipper.
He was particularly impressed with Chandimal, who is now the top scorer of the tournament.
“He did not play in the last World Cup, he probably lacked experience at that time. But he is a very good talent and has a bright future. Today he did not go for the big shots, kept his cool. The youngsters handled things nicely, set up the win.”
“It was just trying to find a position for him and I feel that No.4 is a good position for him to bat long periods, and he's got the big shots if he wants to. He’s learning every day, which is great. He's a guy who learns a lot, asks a lot of questions as well off the field, which is good for Sri Lanka. Hopefully he will be one of those guys who will take us through the next ten years,” claimed Jayawardene.
India who are now at the bottom of the points table have to win their both remaining matches to enter the finals and will face Australia today in Sydney in their first must-win match. All eyes today would be on Star all rounder Shane Watson who is tipped to return to the Aussie side even may be as captain following a lengthy break due to injury. Australian skipper Michael Clarke may miss today’s game due to his recurring back injury.
Sri Lanka’s next match will be on Tuesday against India while they are to complete their first round matches against Australia in Melbourne on Friday.
Sri Lanka can make it certainly to the final with just one more victory but if world champions India fail in their difficult task to win both of their next two matches, Sri Lanka will anyway make it there. But for Jayawardene there is much that lays ahead and would not relax until the task is completed.
“We are at the top of the table, but we have some more work to do,” he pointed out.
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